Sanctuary Stirrings

We’re celebrating a birthday this month. It’s hard to believe, but Journey with a Giant is turning ONE! I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate than by inviting some of the people who have been out on the trail this year, walking with their own spiritual giants, to share what the journey has been like. Today, I'm joined by three sisters—Laurie, Jennifer, and Melissa—who decided to embark...

“For we are God’s poema … His masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus to do good works that God planned for us long ago.” Eph 2:10 Friends, what if I told you that in this world …  … of hurry -- that there was a way to slow down and notice the miraculous all around you? … of overconsumption —that you could quell your insatiable appetites and learn to receive more from less again.   … where we are bec...

Who doesn’t remember being shaped by fairy tales like Alice in Wonderland, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe? So many hours spent on our mother’s lap, or under the covers with a flashlight, stealing just a few more minutes of a story we felt shaping us deep inside. But then somewhere along the way we stopped reading these stories. Applyi...

In this productivity-oriented culture , it’s easy to think reading a story is a waste of time. We have commentaries to read and hundreds of theological classics we haven’t gotten to yet. Before we pick up a story, shouldn’t we read those instead? But consider this:  when the crowds surrounded Jesus and asked him questions about the heavenly kingdom, the nature of God, or how to love their neighbor...

In the swirling of life, the waters of our soul can get murky. Life in the 21stcentury moves fast, and it’s loud. We live day to day with our to-do lists … getting things done and reasonably happy.   But there’s also this longing inside, to get off the treadmill, quiet all the other voices, find answers to the questions churning in our heads, and set our foundation again on the solid rock of our H...

We all have a deep need for meaningfulrelationships —first and foremost, with God. What if, just as you intentionally set aside time to bewith your family at Christmas or get away with your spouse on your anniversary, you set aside time each year to get away alone with the Lover of Your Soul? Join us this week as we explore the beautiful practiceof silence and solitude retreats—stepping away from...

Welcome back to Episode 4 of our Sanctuary Stirrings Fall Series—and the final part of our Cheers to 40 Years conversation! This week, my husband Bryan Melton is back with me as we celebrate 40 years of marriage and  talk about one of thegifts we’ve come to treasure most: “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor.” — Ecclesiastes 4:9 This truth isn’t only for those...

Welcome back to Episode 3 of our Sanctuary Stirrings Fall Series! This week, we’re continuing our conversation about thegift of marriage with a man who, by the grace of God, has walked beside me for 40 years—my husband, the one-and-only Bryan Melton. And today, September 19, 2026, we’re celebratingour 40th anniversary! We’re picking up exactly where we left off—with myroommates giving me five minu...

Welcome to Episode 2 of the Sanctuary Stirrings Fall Series! I’m especially excited about this episode because I’m joined by the MOST IMPORTANT guest I’ve ever had—or ever will have—on the podcast: my husband of 40 years, the one and only Bryan Melton! This is Part One of our “Cheers to 40 Years” conversation , as we look back over four decades together and reflect on the gift of marriage and what...

Before we rush into all that fall holds, what if we tooka few moments to look back? Join me for this opening episode of the Fall Series tohear what’s been happening at The Sanctuary at Bear Creek, get a sneak peek at the conversations coming to the podcast this fall, and receive a simple Labor Day Examen—a practice of looking back over the summer with God and remembering His goodness--using someth...

On this final episode of the Spring Series, join host Lori G. Melton to explore reading as a vital piece of our discipleshipthrough a conversation with speaker and author Sue Donaldson about Oswald Chambers’ devotional My Utmost for His Highest and its impact on Sue’s life withGod for over 50 years. Sue recounts receiving the book from her sister in 1972, keeping annotated copies through major lif...

Sabbath … One of the most precious gifts that God gave to all of creation at the beginning of time. Yet, one that is misunderstood or completely missing in our lives today. It’s a gift that our world--with its incessant speed, exhaustion, search for meaning and connection, needs now more than ever. Yet, a topic surrounded by controversy and conflicting perspectives. Many of us have put it on the s...

Faith is not always expressed in the ways we might expect--like kneeling in the Church sanctuary, reciting holy prayers, or putting money in the offering plate. Often, it’s more evident through painful acts of obedience. Tune in to this week’s episode for a story you’ll likely resonate with—one that explores how we discover God’s will not through your own thoughts, emotions, or circumstances alone...

On this episode, Lori G. Melton welcomes artist, Anglican deacon, and author Ben Lansing to discuss his book, Our Church Speaks: An Illustrated Devotional of Saints from Every Era and Place , and how the lives of the saints point us to Jesus and strengthen us in the “messy” times we live. Burdened to offer what he could during the COVID pandemic, Ben began sharing portraits of the saints on Instag...

In this episode, Lori G. Melton welcomes writer and Bibleteacher, Cara Ray, to discuss moving from a checklist “quiet time” to an unhurried, Spirit-directed, joyful way of knowing God she calls “holy leisure,” drawn from a phrase Cara discovered in Richard Foster’s Celebration of Discipline. Cara shares how lifelong pressure to be consistent in daily quiet time left her feeling like a failure and...

Welcome to Episode Three of the Sanctuary Stirrings Spring series, where we continue the conversation about the often-overlooked soul . Prompted by Jesus’ command in Matthew 22 to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, we'll unpack the surprising realization that most of us can't clearly define the soul — or how to love God with it. If you’ve ever wondered, What is the soul? What imp...

Join me today as we welcome retired Episcopal rectorand pilgrimage leader Robin T. Jennings for part one of our discussion about the soul, to talk about his book, Expressions of the Soul: Celtic Christianity and Life with God. Robin shares how a chaplain’s question led him fromwork at a Chicago boys’ home to seminary, and how later travel and leading pilgrimages to Ireland, Scotland, and Iona spar...

Welcome to the Sanctuary Stirrings Spring Series ! 8 episodes are headed your way, featuring a great lineup of topics and guests to grow in your intimacy with God and others! I can’t think of a better one to start with. My guest is Joel Hogan, a former Christian Reformed World Missions leaderand a missionary in the Philippines has been taking monthly 24-Hour retreats for over 30 years! Transitioni...

In this special post-launch episode of The Journey with a Giant , Robert Prince and Lori G. Melton look back on the unforgettable night when Journey with a Giant officially released. Lori shares the emotional and spiritual journey leading up to the event—the battles she faced, the peace that met her when the night began, and the overwhelming sense of God’s presence as more than 60 people gathered...

In this episode of The Journey with a Giant podcast, Robert Prince interviews Lori G. Melton about her decade-long journey behind her book, Journey with a Giant . Lori shares how God rekindled her passion for writing during the COVID-19 lockdown and the pivotal moments and people who shaped her path. Despite challenges and sacrifices, she remained faithful, stewarding her calling to write a book a...

In this special episode, co-host Robert Prince introduces a heartfelt conversation between Lori G. Melton and her editor, Leslie Calhoun of Waterbrook Books / Penguin Random House. Together, Lori and Leslie pull back the curtain on the creative process behind Journey with a Giant —from the first spark of an idea to the final pages of the book, soon to be released. Leslie shares her journey into ed...

In this special episode of The Journey with a Giant podcast, Lori G. Melton explores the most frequently asked questions from readers and those just discovering Journey with a Giant . Before diving into the questions, Lori shares a moving story from her week that illustrates the reach and healing this practice can have. From a chance encounter to a heartfelt conversation with a woman searching for...

Through the courage and faithfulness of those who have gone before us, God calls us forward—to the steps of courage He is asking of us today.   In this episode of 'The Journey with the Giant' podcast, Lori G. Melton and Robert Prince introduce fellow writer Kirstin Olson as she shares her transformative experience journeying with civil rights leader Fannie Lou Hamer.  Kirstin, a language t...

There is a beautiful grace when we include others on our spiritual journey.  In this episode of Journey with a Giant , Lori G. Melton and co-host Robert Prince explore the transformative power of walking with a giant of the faith alongside friends. They reflect on the spiritual growth, transformation, and joy that multiply when we share our spiritual life with others. Walking with a giant in commu...

Some relationships don’t just enrich our lives—they shape our souls. In this episode of Journey with a Giant , Lori G. Melton sits down with longtime friends Julie Blakely and Sherri Willett to explore the gift of spiritual friendship and the transformative practice of walking with giants. They share how their bond as “Abba Sisters” and the Celtic concept of Anam Cara (soul friendship) have deepen...